Name: Carlos Boozer
Position: PF
Height: 6’9″
Weight: 266 pounds
Birth Date: November 20, 1981 (28 years old)
Birth Place: Aschaffenburg, West Germany
Number: 5
Nicknames: Carlos Bruiser
College: Duke
Drafted: 2002, second round, 34th overall by Cleveland
Experience: 8 seasons
Previous teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz
Expect: Rebounding, inside scoring, brutal screens
Don’t expect: Interior defense

2010-11 Overview:
Let’s get something straight: Carlos Boozer is an elite power forward. Easily among the very best…and a perfect fit for the Bulls. Just ask Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don’t Lie: “[Boozer] sets screens, he gathers well and finishes expertly with either hand, and truly comes straight out of central casting for a team like Chicago.”

Here are Boozer’s significant NBA rankings from the 2009-10 season:

3rd in Double-Doubles (55 — trailing only Dwight Howard and Zach Randolph), 3rd in Defensive Rebounds (693), 3rd in Defensive Rebounds Per Game (8.9), 4th in Total Rebounds (874), 4th in Defensive Rebound Percentage (29.9), 4th in Total Rebound Percentage (19.4), 5th in Rebounds Per Game (11.2), 6th in Field Goal Percentage (a career-high .562), 9th in Effective Field Goal Percentage (.562), 9th in Defensive Win Shares (4.6), 14th in Total Win Shares (9.9), 15th in Player Efficiency Rating (21.3), 16th in True Shooting Percentage (.600), 16th in Defensive Rating (101.8 — tied with Pau Gasol and Anderson Varejao), 17th in Win Shares Per 48 Minutes, and 21st in Points Per Game (19.5).

Among the league’s power forwrds, his rankings are even more impressive:

1st in FGP, 1st in DRPG, 2nd in DRR, 3rd in RPG, 4th in REBR, 4th in Assists Per Game (3.2), 5th in PPG, 5th in PER, 6th in Steals Per Game (1.08), 6th in TS%, 7th in Usage Percentage, 7th in Value Added, 7th in Estimated Wins Added, 9th in Assist Ratio…

…I think you get the point. Boozer is pretty good.

It’s worth noting that the 2009-10 season was something of a comeback year for Boozer. Prior to that, he had suffered (literally) through two consecutive seaons of shrinking stats, due primarily to various injuries (ankle, calf, foot, hamstring, knee, quadriceps…). This — in addition to the ampe time he missed in 2004-05 (31 games) and 2005-06 (49 games) — earned Boozer a reputation as an injury-riddled player who had already peaked and was now in sharp decline.

Boozer then proved everybody wrong by appearing in 78 regular season games and an additional 10 playoff games, re-joining the select group of elite NBA power forwards. Bulls fans are hoping that wasn’t a case of Contract Year Phenomenon in action.

Offense:
ESPN’s David Thorpe includes Boozer in his short list of the game’s most accomplished post players and ranks among the best at scoring around the basket with either hand: “Boozer can beat you both with feel and mechanics. His massive body provides all the space he needs, and his ambidexterity keeps his defender guessing which way he’ll turn. … Boozer has incredible touch turning or finishing in either direction. You cannot force him anywhere but backwards if you hope to slow him down.”

Boozer’s strength and offensive versatility make him a very high percentage shooter. Last season, Boozer hit an astouding 67.9 percent of his shots around the basket. Among power forwards, Boozer ranked 2nd behind coulda-been-a-Bull LaMarcus Aldridge (70.7 percent). He also ranked 3rd inside 10 feet (49.2 percent — behind only Amar’e Stoudemire and Chris Bosh), 7th from 10-15 feet (43.6 percent) and 5th from 16-23 feet (44 percent).

But are those numbers — particularly the “around the basket” stats — deceiving? According to ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh added the following: “According to Synergy, more than one-third of his scoring plays this past season came from the pick-and-roll or through a cut rewarded with a feed from Deron Williams. As a barrel-chested tank, Boozer is one of the best finishers off the pick-and-roll — he converted 106 of his 168 attempts resulting from Jerry Sloan’s signature play.”

Hoopdata provides an even more stunning view of Boozer’s scoring plays: 72.8 percent of Boozer’s shots at the rim where assisted. Nearly 70 percent of his shots inside of 10 feet were assisted. Over 65 percent of his shots from 10-15 feet were assisted. And 86 percent of his shots from 16-23 feet were assisted.

In other words: This big dog needs to be fed. Fortunately, Boozer has an All-Star point guard in Derrick Rose to set the table. And although it’s true that Boozer isn’t a back-to-the-basket-on-every-possession kind of guy, the fact is he can play in the post. And that’s an option that’s going to greatly benefit the Bulls’ offense.

Defense:
According to ESPN’s John Hollinger: “Defensively, Boozer is average at best. Although his strength lets him push out opposing post players, he doesn’t have the length to challenge their shots, and his lateral movement is suspect. That hurts him in pick-and-roll defense and gives him trouble when he chases perimeter 4s around the 3-point line. He’s a good defensive rebounder, but he seldom blocks shots or takes charges, and his effort level has been questioned at times.”

So…Boozer kind of blows on defense?

According to Haberstroh…yes: “According to basketballvalue.com, the Jazz were nearly two points worse with Boozer on the court over the past two seasons, even after adjusting for the strength of his teammates and opponents. … It’s an irrefutable fact that the Jazz were better defensively without Boozer this past season. The Jazz allowed six more points every 100 possessions while Boozer was on the court relative to when he sat the bench. His offensive exploits failed to make up for his defensive deficiencies, as he improved the Jazz’s scoring by only four points — a net margin of minus-two points.”

Obviously, this is a concern. Maybe Tom Thibodeau will help. And maybe Joakim Noah will help as well. As Haberstroh pointed out: “The key to maximizing Boozer’s abilities will be pairing him up with an athletic big to clog the middle.”

Furthermore a league source said: “You need to pair him with a long athletic guy, whereas Lee and Stoudemire are really much more limited to being on an up-tempo team, and they need long, athletic defensive guys with them. And Boozer can do that for someone, and he’s a space eater. He’s a totally different cat.”

So there may be hope after all.

Warning — Handle with Care:
In six seasons with the Jazz, Boozer missed 138 games. That’s a lot. And I doubt there are many Bulls fans who aren’t worried about Boozer breaking down…especially after what they’ve been through with Luol Deng. I don’t know. Maybe we can keep him in a plastic bubble when he’s not playing.

Character issues:
We all know about how he allegedy stabbed the Cavaliers in the back (after an under-the-table handshake deal), and how he seemed to wear out his welcome in Utah. But wait. There’s more.

According to ESPNChicago.com’s Nick Friedell: “As a quick aside, the day Boozer and the Bulls agreed to the deal, I was asked to go on a talk show in Salt Lake City. Granted, the hosts may have been a little biased in their assessment of his play, but the prevailing theory they had for Chicago fans was, ‘Buyer Beware.’ Boozer developed a reputation as a guy who didn’t always play through injuries and looked out for himself. The guys in Salt Lake City admitted that he was a great player, but they didn’t sound broken up that he was leaving.”

Fortunately, the leadership on this team will come from Rose and Noah.

Summary:
Boozer is a primetime inside scorer and a league-leading rebounder. The Bulls will need a little luck for him to stay healthy, but if he does, he’s going to make his teammates (particularly Rose) better on the offensive end. And hopefully Thibs and Noah can make him a little more serviceable on the defensive end.

More Carlos:
NBA.com profile
ESPN.com profile
Basketball-Reference.com Profile
82games.com Player Stats
Wikipedia entry

Bonus video:
Watch Carlos give you some lesson on post play:

The post 2010-11 Scouting Report: Carlos Boozer appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Name: Joakim Noah (pronounced JO-a-kim)
Position: PF/C
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 232 pounds
Birth Date: February 25, 1985 (25 years old)
Birth Place: New York, NY
Number: 13
Nicknames: Dr. No, Jo, Jo-No, Noah Kim-Joa, The Joker
College: Florida
Drafted: 2007, 1st Round, 9th overall by Chicago
Experience: 3 seasons
Previous teams: None
Expect: Rebounding, defense, crazy energy, crazier hair
Don’t expect: Any slacking off

2010-11 Overview:
Last season, Joakim was breaking out. Seriously. He ranked in the top 10 in Rebounds Per Game (11.0), Defensive Rebounds Per Game (7.6), Offensive Rebounds Per Game (3.4), Rebounding Rate (20.4) and Defensive Rebounding Rate (12.9) and Defensive Rating (101.0). Furthermore, he set career highs in Minutes Per Game (30.1), Free Throw Percentage (.744), Points Per Game (10.7), Blocks Per Game (1.6) and most of his advanced stats as well (Player Efficiency Rating, Assist Percentage, Usage Percentage and all his rebounding stats).

Noah also had 28 double-doubles last season. That’s more than Kevin Durant, Lamar Odom, LaMarcus Aldridge, David West, Andrew Bynum and Dirk Nowitzki. And it’s only four fewer than LeBron James. It’s no wonder Charles Barkley thought Noah should have been an All-Star.

I’m just sayin’.

As 2010 began, Joakim was playing the best basketball of his career. His January numbers: 14 games, 13.4 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 52 percent shooting from the field and 88 percent shooting from the line (52-for-59). It’s probably no coincidence that the Bulls went 10-5 that month. It was their best month of the 2009-10 season.

Unfortunately, Noah developed a nagging case of plantar fasciitis. In February, he played only six games, starting twice. In March, he again played only six games, all off the bench. The Bulls went 12-17 during those two months, including 4-11 in March. That was their worst month of the season.

But Noah was ready for the playoffs, during which he averaged 14.8 PPG (52 percent from the field, 94 from the line), 13.0 RPG adn 2.6 APG against a pretty ginormous Cleveland frontcourt. Unfortunately, the Bulls lasted only five games.

Still, as long as he stays healthy, I think Noah could become an All-Star this season.

On offense:
Prior to last season, Noah’s offense was extremely limited, with almost all of his scoring coming from layups, dunks and putbacks. And, frankly, he almost always looked hesitant to shoot. As a result, unless he was within a few feet of the basket, his defender would sag way off him to provide extra help defense and disrupt passing lanes.

During the summer of 2009, there were rumors that Noah had spent significant time adding strength, working on his post game, and improving his lower body mechanics and overall balance.

It showed.

In addition to his usual array of around-the-basket stuff, Noah added a hook shoot (either righty or lefty, but usually righty) and even started shooting his awkward more frequently…and more successfully. In 2009-10, Joakim wasn’t going crazy from the outside, but he attempted 100 more outside shots than he did the previous season. What’s more, he shot 40 percent of better in multiple zones. And according to Hoopdata, Jo hit 40 percent of his shots from 10-15 feet and 43 percent of his shots from 16-23 feet. I’m not saying I want Joakim chucking it up from the outside…but being able to stick a jumper now and again is a nice attribute for your big man to have.

The new skills made Noah more aggressive. Now, when his defender stood back, Noah tried to make him pay. And it showed. In 2009-10, Noah set a new career-high in points (21). He had 37 games in which he scored in double figures and three games of 20+ points. The previous season, he scored in double figures only 20 games and never once scored as many as 20 points. This is especially meaningful when you consider that Noah played 16 fewer games in 2009-10 and spent the better part of three months hobbled by a foot injury.

If Noah continues to expand his offensive game, the sky’s the limit.

Scoring aside, Noah is also a willing and crafty passer, a demon on the offensive glass, and capable setter of screens and picks. When he scores a bucket, it’s a bonus. However, Noah is just as effective off the ball. He doesn’t need shots to contribute, which is a valuable quality considering the fact that guys like Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng will need their fair share of touches.

On defense:
Whatever Noah still lacks in offensive proficiency, he makes up for in defensive intensity. While it’s true that bigger, stronger post players (like Shaq or even Andrew Bogut) can usually outmuscle him down low, he’s pretty accomplished in most other areas. His transition defense is fantastic, he can pick up smaller, quicker players on switches, and he rotates extremely well. He can even press and trap when asked to do so, mostly due to his natural athleticism and (more importantly) his willingness to scramble all over the floor.

Last season, Noah ranked 14th in the NBA in Blocks Per Game (1.56) and 17th in Blocks Per 48 Minutes (2.49). Those numbers represente a minor backslide from the 2008-09 campaign, which was due primarily to the plantar fasciitis. During that February-March stretch in which he appeared in a mere 12 games, Noah managed only six blocked shots (including a measely one block in February). However, in eight April games — by which time he was finally healthy — Noah had 17 blocked shots.

And anyway, as I’ve already mentioned, Noah still managed to rank in the top in Defensive Rebounding, Defensive Rebounding Rate, and Defensive Rating. Despite a broken wheel. When healthy, the kid’s got it. That’s all I’m saying.

Don’t forget: Tom Thibodeau’s league-leading defense in Boston was predicated on Kevin Garnett acting as the team’s defensive anchor. KG was the foundation of that system because of his natural skills, dedication to defense, court IQ and the ability to communicate effectively with his teammates. Noah has similar capabilities. Expect him to become Thibodeau’s new defensive anchor.

Miscellaneous:
Noah has true passion a real thrill for competition. He almost always plays at a frenetic, high-energy pace and he would walk face-first through a brick wall to win. You want someone like that on your team. His energy, enthusiasm and sheer desire make him almost untouchable from a trade standpoint. His intangibles — not to mention his not inconsiderable tangibles — are key components to team victories.

Summary:
Noah is everything you want in a teammate: talented, passionate, driven and unselfish. He’ll probably never be a 20 PPG scorer. However, he has developed the ability to make significant offensive contributions while also beng a big-time game-changer on the defensive end.

More Joakim:
NBA.com profile
ESPN.com profile
Basketball-Reference profile
82games.com Player Stats
Wikipedia entry

Bonus video:
Here’s what Joakim Noah does:

The post 2010-11 Scouting Report: Joakim Noah appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Name: Derrick Rose
Position: PG
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 190
Birth Date: October 4, 1988 (20 years old)
Birth Place: Chicago, IL
Number: 1
Nicknames: D-Rose, Pooh, South Side Sorcerer, Windy City Warlock
College: Memphis
Drafted: 2008, 1st round, 1st overall by Chicago
Experience: 1 season
Previous teams: None
Contract: $5.1 million in 2009-10
Expect: A blossoming All-Star
Don’t expect: Any letup

On offense:
By all indications, Rose is an All-Star in the making. As a rookie, he led the Bulls in Assists Per Game (6.3) and Minutes Played (3000), and he was second on the team in Field Goals Made (574), third in Points Per Game (16.8), third in Free Throws Attempted (250), and fourth in Field Goal Percentage (.475). League-wide, Rose ranked 12th in Assists (512), 13th in Minutes Played, 16th in Assists Per Game and 17th in Field Goals Made. In terms of advanced stats, his notable team ranks were first in Assist Percentage (28.8), second in Usage Rate (22.6), third in Win Shares (5.0) and sixth in Player Efficiency Rating (16.0).

But those are just numbers. Let’s talk about his game. For starters, Rose can cut through opposing defenses like a Ginsu knife, slicing and dicing his way into the paint almost at will. He’s a nightmare to cover one-on-one or in the open court, and his defenders often choose to play off him to force a jumper (more on that below). But even with a few feet of separation, Rose can still blow by his man in a variety of ways (crossover, stutter step, hesitation dribble, etc.). Once Rose gets to the rim, he can finish from almost any angle. He can throw it down, lay it up, or toss in a floater. Furthermore, Rose has the upper body strength and physical control necessary to absorb contact and convert in traffic. And while these skills are amazing in half court sets, they are flat-out unbelievable on the break. When Rose hits the accelerator, his opponents might as well just step out of the way or smile for the poster.

As I mentioned above, defenders would much rather let Rose shoot than drive. Last season, 60 percent of his field goal attempts were jumpers. His Effective Field Goal Percentage near the hoop was .577 but only .419 when shooting from distance. Clearly, his outside marksmanship wasn’t what it could be, especially from three-point range, where he converted only 16 of 72 attempts (22 percent). However, his stroke — not to mention his confidence in it — improved over the course of his rookie year. In fact, according to the NBA.com Hotspots page, Rose went 43-for-81 (53 percent) from midrange over the last 10 games of the regular season. And he’s been working hard on his shot, taking 500 (or more) jumpers a day, six days a week. If Rose can drill ’em from the outside and extend his range beyond the arc, he will become a nearly unstoppable scoring force.

However, let’s not forget that, first and foremost, Rose is a point guard. He’s done a serviceable job in that capacity. Rose runs the offense that Vinny Del Negro has designed: he passes to the open man, feeds teammates who have a mismatch, and executes a lot of drive and kick-outs. During the 2008-09 campaign, he sometimes stalled the offense by over-dribbling or forcing a pass, but those are pretty common rookie mistakes. (Although there are plenty of veterans who do the same thing.) Generally speaking, he’s reasonably efficient (if somewhat conservative) as a playmaker. According to 82games.com, he dished out 512 assists last season while committing only 106 “bad pass” turnovers. That comes out to 4.8 assists per passing turnover. Overall, Rose lost the ball 202 times as a rookie, which means he averaged about 2.5 assists per turnover. That’s a pretty good ratio.

What Rose did not display in his first NBA season was a lot of creativity. Rose isn’t particularly good at creating offense on the fly (like, say, Steve Nash) or thinking one step ahead of the defense (like a Chris Paul or Jason Kidd). He runs plays. He hits the open man. He doesn’t throw many careless passes. Those are good things. But to become a truly great point guard, Rose must see the court, anticipate player movement, and see openings before they appear and the defense can adjust to them. Moreover, he must createthese openings with his ball handling and savvy. That’s the sign of an elite playmaker.

Last April, David Thorpe said Rose needs to study Chauncey Billups: “A dynamic and unselfish talent, Rose must become more of a thinker on the floor. Right now, he often just reacts to what he’s confronted with. Billups, on the other hand, is like a computer, rapidly figuring out the odds of each decision he faces and the consequences of each action. As opposed to college guys who pass only to open players, guys such as Billups find ways to get their better players open, then get them the ball. When Rose learns this part of the game, while still factoring in his own scoring talents, he’ll join the upper tier of the league’s point guards.”

Of course, as the point guard, Rose usually has the ball in his hands. However, even when the ball is in “hot potato” mode, he can be effective. In general, Rose does a good job of moving without the ball in the set offense, but he’s not much of a spot-up shooter, preferring instead to make hard cuts to the basket. It would be best, however, if Rose could seriously upgrade his ability to spot up, especially from three-point range. After all, science has proven that a team’s offense becomes much more efficient when the point guard can knock down a high percentage of his three-point shots.

It’s interesting to note that, despite his many forays to the hoop last season, Rose averaged only 3.1 free throw attempts. Some people believe that Rose wasn’t aggressive enough, but I don’t think that’s the case. I believe that his low number of FTAs was due to the fact that he was a rookie. First off, NBA officials tend to make rookies pay their dues (no matter what David Stern says). Secondly, Rose hasn’t yet learned how to sell fouls the way veteran players do. Trust me, his fouls attempts will increase this season. And so will his free throw shooting percentage, which was 78.8 last season.

On defense:
Let’s get something straight: Rose has the sheer physical ability to be a top-notch defender…maybe one of the best in the league at his position. Want the proof? Check this out. And this. For the record, that second play was a must-stop situation that occurred during the final seconds of the third overtime of a playoff elimination game against the defending NBA champions. Feel free to say “wow.” I’ll wait.

Here’s the problem: those two plays were exceptions to the rule. During his rookie season, Rose didn’t focus on or commit to defense on a consistent basis. Generally speaking, he could usually be found in the general vicinity of the man he was guarding. But Rose rarely put pressure on opposing point guards. He had trouble fighting through screens (which is more about strength of will than strength of body). He wasn’t very vocal when defensive switches were needed. He struggled (sometimes mightily) to keep his man in front of him and his hands were usually closer to his own waistband than his opponent’s shot attempts.

On the bright side, he was a rookie. It’s possible that Rose’s defensive struggles were part of the learning process that all first year players go through. If he can improve his fundamentals and turn up the intensity, he could become a defensive beast.

Miscellaneous:
One of Rose’s most impressive traits has been his maturity. The kid was unflappable last season. He never hung his head after bad games, never shrank away from big moments. That’s exactly what a team needs from its point guard and franchise player/team leader. However, Rose has so far been one of those quiet, lead-by-example types. That’s not going to cut it. For Rose and the Bulls to take the Next Step, he has to become a more vocal leader. Again, Rose was only a rookie last season, and Ben Gordon was semi-entrenched as the team leader (at least in critical situations). It’ll be interesting to see how Rose’s leadership skills develop this season.

Speaking of Gordon, Rose will most likely inherit his clutch shot responsibilities. Instead of watching BG scramble around the three-point arc trying to invent a shot, I expect to see the Bulls’ clutch offense revolve around high pick and rolls involving Rose and one of the team’s bigs.

One other concern — albeit a minor one — is whether Rose will be negatively affected by the controversies he was involved in this summer. Honestly, I don’t think it’ll be a problem…but you never know.

Summary:
Rose is a lightning-quick, hyper-athletic point guard who can drive into the heart of a defense and make great things happen by finishing or passing. His jump shot is still suspect, and his ability to create offense needs to improve…as does his defense. He could also stand to become a more vocal leader. But these are all nitpicks. Rose was fantastic during his rookie season and has what it takes to ascend quickly to greatness.

More Rose:
NBA.com profile
ESPN.com profile
Basketball-Reference profile
82games.com Player Stats
Wikipedia entry

Bonus video:

The post Scouting Report: Derrick Rose appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Name: Jannero Pargo (pronounced Juh-NAIR-oh)
Position: PG/SG
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 185
Birth Date: October 22, 1979 (29 years old)
Birth Place: Chicago, IL
Number: 2
Nicknames: None
College: Arkansas
Drafted: Undrafted (2002)
Experience: 6 seasons
Previous team: New Orleans (2006-2008)
Contract: $1.9 million in 2009-10
Expect: Instant scoring off the bench
Don’t expect: Shooting efficiency

On offense:
Pargo is a classic shoot-first point guard who seems to regard creating for his teammates as a solid second option. In many ways, he’s a shooting guard trapped in a point guard’s body. Pargo’s offense comes from spot-up jumpers (out to three-point range), midrange jumpers off the pick and roll, and pull-up jumpers off of drives that stop short of the basket. Notice how the three main facets of his offense included the word “jumpers”? That’s because, like Kirk Hinrich, Pargo’s game is jumper-centric. During the 2007-08 season — his last in the NBA — 84 percent of Pargo’s field goal attempts were jump shots. And since only 43 percent of his converted jumpers were assisted, it’s clear he’s looking to create his own shot.

The only problem is that, despite his smooth and fundamentally sound shooting stroke, Pargo’s percentages are terribly low. For his career, he’s connected on 39.5 percent of his field goals and 36.5 of his three-pointers. In his six NBA seasons, Pargo has only shot better than 40 percent twice: 40.7 percent in 2003-04 and 40.9 percent in 2006-07. He’s never shot 40 percent from beyond the arc (his career-high in three-point percentage was 38.8 percent in 2006-07). During the 2007-08 season, Pargo’s Effective Field Goal Percentage on jump shots was 43 percent. His eFG% was only 46 percent when he took the ball to the hoop.

So while Pargo can and will fire it up without hesitation, he’s not a terribly efficient shooter. He’s streaky, though, and he can carry a team with his hot flashes (and kill a team when he goes cold). On an up note, Pargo has hit nearly 85 percent of his career free throws. Unfortunately, he rarely makes it close enough to the rim to draw contact, so he’s averaged only 0.9 free throws in 315 games.

Although Pargo isn’t great at creating open looks for his teammates, he’s a solid passer who can run set plays rarely makes bad decisions. During his last season in the league, Pargo dished out 192 assists while accumulating only 43 “bad pass” turnovers. That works out to 4.5 assists for every pass he throws away. For some perspective on that number, Steve Nash averaged 3.7 assists per bad pass last season.

On defense:
Pargo is relatively short and slight, which at times can make him a defensive liability. He simply doesn’t have the size or strength necessary to man up against big guards (especially shooting guards) or fight through aggressive picks. Pargo tries hard to make up for his physical limitations by being aggressive, adhering to fundamentals (stance, footwork, staying in front of his man, etc.) and using his quick hands to deflect or steal lazy passes (although, for his career, he averages only 1.2 Steals Per 36 Minutes). Basically, Pargo is a solid defensive point guard as long as he isn’t physically overwhelmed.

Miscellaneous:
During the summer of 2008, Pargo signed a one-year contract withthe Russian Super League team Dynamo Moscow. The following January, he negotiated a buyout from his Russian club and signed with the Greek League club Olympiacos Piraeus. Pargo was released by Olympiacoson May 5 of this year and signed with the Bulls on July 13th. So basically, he missed one full NBA season. Moreover, he averaged only 3.5 points and 1.4 assists per game in the Euroleague, which makes me wonder how he’ll adjust to playing against NBA-level competition again. It’s not a huge deal, because he’ll be playing limited minutes off the bench…but it’s worth noting.

Summary:
Pargo isn’t big and doesn’t have great hops, but he’s quick, focused and determined. He can handle the ball and initiate the offense, but Pargo is first and foremost a sniper who’s looking to score. His offense runs hot and cold, but that won’t stop him from bombing away. Pargo won’t shoot a high percentage, but he won’t make a lot of stupid mistakes, either. Results may vary, but he will give his all on offense and defense. Pargo doesn’t have what it takes to start on a regular basis, but he’s an effective roleplayer and can provide a spark (not to mention scoring bursts) when coming off the bench.

Update! From Henry Abbott of TrueHoop: “To me his greatest play to date was his reaction to being assaulted by a frustrated Jason Kidd. The Hornets had the game in hand. Pargo went down really hard, but broke his fall, did some kind of dive roll and literally came up clapping. No way his spirit was broken, and he wasn’t about to let Kidd keep him from a great moment of Hornets basketball. The Hornets, of course, won the game and the series.”

Another Update! From Visiting Thunder Fan (Jax): “I’m from OKC, and got to watch Pargo play with CP3 for a year. At first, no one really knew what to expect from him. At first, it seemed like he missed every shot he took, and I thought he’d be the 3rd string guard on a poor team. But, it didn’t take the guy long to turn into a fan favorite. Yes, his jumper started to fall, and he took TONS of shots just to bail his teammates out of a bad offensive play. But it was his attitude that won people over. Pargo is fearless. Last 10 shots didn’t go in? So. We’re down by 20? So. It’s me and four 8th graders against the Dream Team? So. Let me at ’em. The dude’s got an ironclad face and a warriors mentality. That Hornet’s team almost made it .500, but other than CP3 and David West there was no offensive threat (Peja was hurt). Rasual Butler turned into a decent scoring wing that year, but hadn’t been terribly impressive the previous year. At times, there was just no one that seemed to know who to go to or what to do, and Pargo just strong willed the team out of their slumps.”

More Pargo:
NBA.com profile
ESPN.com profile
Basketball-Reference profile
82games.com Player Stats
Wikipedia entry

Bonus video:
I couldn’t find any highlight films, but here’s some video of Pargo hitting a trick shot.

The post Scouting Report: Jannero Pargo appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Name: Kirk Hinrich (pronounced HINE-rick)
Position: PG/SG
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 190
Birth Date: January 2, 1981 (28 years old)
Birth Place: Sioux City, IA
Number: 12
Nicknames: Captain Kirk, The Hinrich Maneuver
College: Kansas
Drafted: 2003, 1st Round, 7th overall by Chicago
Experience: 6 seasons
Previous teams: None
Contract: $9.5 million in 2009-10
Expect: Pull-up jumpers, solid defense
Don’t expect: A breakout year

On offense:
Hinrich is a jump shooter. Period. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but not by much. According to 82games.com, a whopping 89 percent of his field goal attempts last season were jumpers. That’s an astonishing number, and it isn’t an aberration. In 2007-08, 84 percent of his field goal attempts were jumpers. In 2006-07, that number was 81 percent. In 2005-06, it was 77 percent. Can you spot the trend? The one bright spot is that his Effective Field Goal Percentage on jump shots was .517, and overall he ranked fourth on the Bulls (behind Joakim Noah, John Salmons and Ben Gordon) in total eFG% at .519 (a career-high for him). Furthermore, Hinrich hit 40.8 percent of his threes, which is the second-best mark of his career.

As John Hollinger pointed out: “Hinrich likes to shoot jumpers going to his right off the screen-and-roll, especially from the left side of the floor, and is also a decent spot-up shooter on 3s. He has good quickness going to his right but tends to pull up rather than go all the way to the basket.” That last part explains why Hinrich attempted only 1.3 free throws per game last season…which represents a career-low. When he does get to the line, Hinrich has (over the course of his career) knocked down about 80 percent of his foul shots, although last season’s 79.1 percent mark was also a career-low.

Hinrich does a reasonably good job distributing the ball in the halfcourt offense, usually off drive-and-kick-outs. Despite losing his starting job to Derrick Rose and playing a career-low 26.3 minutes per game during the 2008-09 campaign, he ranked second on the team with 3.9 assists per game compared to only 1.7 turnovers (which comes out to 2.3 assists per turnover). In fact, according to 82games.com, Hinrich had 197 assists versus only 55 “bad pass” turnovers (which comes out to 3.6 assists for every pass he threw away). However, Hinrich isn’t particularly adept at creating offense — for himself or his teammates — on the fly.

On defense:
Hinrich is a determined and aggressive defender who can cover point guards, shooting guards, and (on occasion) small forwards (although with John Salmons and a healthy Luol Deng, that shouldn’t be necessary this season). He’s not exactly what you’d call a stopper, but Hinrich consistently gives his best on defense and rarely gets embarrassed, even by superstuds like Dwyane Wade. His lack of height and muscle can hurt him against bigger guards, but he usually manages to get under their skin with his quick hands and persistence.

Hinrich also does a pretty good job hawking the ball. Last season, he actually had a career-year in steals, setting a high mark for Steals Per 36 Minutes (1.8). And, despite playing fewer minutes than anyone in the regular rotation other than Joakim Noah, he led the Bulls in Steals Per game with 1.3.

Miscellaneous:
Hinrich’s contract has become something of a sore spot with the team’s management (not to mention some fans). Because nine-plus million is a lot to pay for a backup point guard, Hinrich is often part of any big trade rumors involving the Bulls. It’s an open secret that the accountants would like to have his contract off the books, so the general feeling is that Hinrich could be moved at virtually any time if the right deal presented itself.

Summary:
Hinrich can shoot, drive (although infrequently), and pass. He can play and defend both backcourt positions. He can stick the three at a high percentage. He seems content coming off the bench. Hinrich provides the Bulls with great versatility. It’s very, very doubtful that he’ll ever become The Next John Stockton (as people were predicting three or four seasons ago), but the team won’t be crippled when Hinrich subs in for Derrick Rose or John Salmons. Some people complain because he gets paid like a starter, but in reality he could (and would) start for several teams. And being able to bring someone with Hinrich’s overall utility off the bench can be a real security blanket.

More Hinrich:
NBA.com profile
ESPN.com profile
Basketball-Reference profile
82games.com Player Stats
Wikipedia entry

Bonus video:

The post Scouting Report: Kirk Hinrich appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Name: Tyrus Thomas (pronounced TIE-rus)
Position: PF
Height: 6’9″
Weight: 215 pounds
Birth Date: August 17, 1986 (23 years old)
Birth Place: Baton Rouge, LA
Number: 24
Nicknames: Big T’s, Free Money, The Mercenary, T-Time, TT, Ty, Ty-Rise
College: Louisiana State
Drafted: 2006, 1st round, 4th overall by Portland
Experience: 3 seasons
Previous Team: None
Contract: $4.7 million in 2009-10
Expect: Blocked shots and midrange jumpers
Don’t expect: Post play

On offense:
Tremendous upside potential. Those three words explain why, on the night of the 2006 NBA Draft, the Bulls traded the draft rights to LaMarcus Aldridge (the second overall pick) and a future second round draft choice to the Portland Trail Blazers for the draft rights to Tyrus Thomas (the fourth overall pick) and throw-in Viktor Khryapa. The belief was (apparently) that Thomas had the potential to be a much better profesionall basketball player than Aldridge. And that may even be the case…someday. It hasn’t happend so far, though. Aldridge has been better, and Bulls management, coaches and fans are still waiting for Thomas to live up to his potential.

Thomas can’t post up, partly due to a lack of the requisite size and strength, and partly due to the fact that he doesn’t have (to my knowledge) a single inside move. Simply put, the kid would benefit greatly from something as simple as a jump hook. To this point, however, Thomas has been content to spot up for midrange jumpers and score off dunks and layups created by passes from teammates. He really can’t manufacture his own offense, which is why almost 70 percent of his field goals last season came off of assists. When Thomas does try to invent something, disaster may ensue in the form of ball-handling mistakes and bad passes, which explains why he had more turnovers (129) than assists (77) last season.

During the 2008-09 campaign, 55 percent of Thomas’ field goal attempts were jumpers, a stunning amount considering his Effective Field Goal Percentage on those shots was .350. His eFG% was much higher on dunks (.883) and inside shots (.581), which leads to the question: Why does Tyrus shoot so many jumpers? I guess because he truly believes in his outside shooting. And so, apparently, does Vinny Del Negro.

Thomas is at his best in the open court or cutting to the basket in halfcourt situations. However, his effectiveness is reduced any time a defender is standing between him and the basket. He struggles to finish under pressure (unless he’s dunking). When Thomas has to pull up short of the hoop, he can’t seem to square up for a good shot (although that doesn’t stop him from chucking it up). And he’s not as good an offensive rebounder as he should be, probably because he’d rather hang out on the perimeter than mix it up inside. Last season, he was fourth on the team on the offensive glass (1.9 per game), behind Brad Miller (2.5), the departed Drew Gooden (2.6) and Joakim Noah (3.1). In fact, his rebounding in general has been declining. See below.

When inspired to take is strong to the basket, Thomas can draw fouls. He was second on the team (behind Ben Gordon) in Total Free Throw Attempts last season (304). He also shot a respectable 78 percent from the foul line…quite an improvement from the 60 percent he shot as a rookie.

On defense:
Thomas’ greatest asset is his shot-blocking ability, particularly in weak-side help situations. This is due primarily to his superior length and athleticism. Last season, he ranked 4th in the NBA in Total Blocks (151), 6th in Blocks Per 48 Minutes (3.33) and 8th in Blocks Per Game (1.91). During the playoffs, Thomas was even better, ranking 1st in both Blocks Per Game (2.86) and Blocks Per 48 Minutes (4.92). And he was 8th in Total Blocks (20) despite the fact that the Bulls were eliminated in the first round.

Thomas’ long arms also enable him to grab a fair number of steals. In fact, he was tied for second on the team (with the departed Larry Hughes and Luol Deng) in Steals Per Game (1.2). Only Kirk Hinrich averaged more (1.3).

On the downside, 215 pounds is feather-light for an NBA power forward, so Thomas can be (and often is) overpowered in man-to-man situations. More troubling, however, is his defensive rebounding. Despite ranking third on the team (behind the departed Drew Gooden and mid-season pickup Brad Miller) with 4.6 per game, there has been a downward trend. Despite a steady increase in Minutes Per Game — from 13.4 his rookie season, to 18.0 his sophomore season, to 27.5 last season — his Defensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes have fallen from 6.7, to 6.5, to 6.0. In fact, his Total Rebounds Per 36 Minutes have gone from 10.0 in 2006-07, to 9.3 in 2007-08, to 8.4 in 2008-09.

Last season, the Bulls ranked 28th in Defensive Rebounding. And while that’s not all Thomas’ fault, the Bulls desperately need him to hit the defensive glass with increased intensity this season.

Miscellaneous:
Thomas has been dogged by quiet (but regular) rumors that he can be immature and hard to deal with. Of course, many NBA players are dogged by similar rumors. But they might seem worse due to Thomas’ iffy decision-making and general inconsistency. You never know what he’s going to give you: it could be 18 points and 12 rebounds with 4 blocked shots one night and then 6 and 4 with no blocked shots the next.

That said, this is a contract year for Thomas. And you know what that means.

Summary:
Thomas may be the best pure athlete on the team. He’s long, fast and can jump to the moon. These attributes make him a fantastic transition player and a nice option for pick-and-rolls. Thomas can stick the midrange jumper, but he takes too many of those and makes too few forays to the basket. As it stands, Thomas is by far the team’s best shot blocker and weak-side defender. He needs to improve his shot selection, his ability to finish around the basket, and his capacity to focus on a nightly basis. It would also be nice if he could add a little muscle and hit the boards with renewed intensity.

More Tyrus:
NBA.com profile
ESPN.com profile
Basketball-Reference profile
82games.com stats
Wikipedia entry

Bonus video:

The post Scouting Report: Tyrus Thomas appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Name: Brad Miller
Position: C
Height: 7’0″
Weight: 260
Birth Date: April 12, 1976 (33 years old)
Birth Place: Fort Wayne, IN
Number: 52
Nicknames: B-52, Bad News Brad, Cornrows, BM
College: Purdue
Drafted: Undrafted
Experience: 11 seasons
Previous Team: Sacramento (2003-09)
Contract: $12.3 million in 2009-10
Expect: Outside shooting
Don’t expect: Blazing speed

On offense:
Let’s get a couple things straight: Brad Miller couldn’t outrun a bag of sand or jump over a nickle. But what Miller lacks in athleticism — and he lacks a lot — he more than makes up for in skill and veteran savvy. He’s by far one of the best outside shooting big men in the NBA, mostly from midrange although he can and will spot up for the occasional three-pointer. (In fact, Miller hit 41 percent of his threes in 2008-09 — 46.5 percent with the Kings but only 23.1 percent after he was traded to Chicago.). Miller’s jumper is so accurate (and feared by his opponents) that he’s often able to head-fake his defender into the air and drive (slowly but effectively) to the hoop. He’s not a great finisher due to his lack of power and leaping ability, but he’s good at initiating contact and drawing fouls around the rim. Miller earned 4.3 free throw attempts per game after coming to the Bulls in February. That was the third-best average on the team behind Ben Gordon (4.7) and John Salmons (4.4). And Miller is an 80 percent career foul shooter, so you want him going to the line.

Miller is also one of the best passing centers in the league. His assist numbers aren’t what they were during his heydey in Sacramento (which is partly due to his declining minutes and the fact that he’s no longer as integral to his team’s offense), but he’s great at hitting cutters and spot-up shooters from the high post. Miller doesn’t have the foot speed to get out on the fast break, but he’s ideal for halfcourt situations that call for bone-jarring screens and pick-and-pops. (Note that 92 percent of Miller’s jump shots were assisted during his 27 games in Chicago last season, so the Bulls obviously love to use him in pick-and-pops and spot-ups.)

It’s not all violins and roses on offense, though. Miller has no post game to speak of (which has become the standard for big men in Chicago ever since Elton Brand was traded away). For the most part, his scoring opportunities are created by teammates or laziness/mistakes by his defender…so don’t look for him to invent offense. Miller also got into the habit of forcing passes last season, especially during the playoffs, which led to painful (and often needless) turnovers. And because he spends so much time on the perimeter, Miller can’t be counted on to grab many offensive rebounds.

On defense:
Miller’s defense is best described as “limited.” Again, this can be explained by his lack of athleticism. He can’t jump and has very little lateral quickness (or any other kind of quickness for that matter). Miller can bang with opposing centers on occasion, but the powerful, athletic bigs usually overpower him. Meanwhile, the quicker centers can get by and/or around him almost at will. He’s not particularly adept in help situations either, and he can be abused in screen-roll situations. Miller is a solid defensive rebounder…so he has that going for him. Oh, and he’s more than willing to commit hard fouls when he gets beaten or blown by on defense.

Miscellaneous:
Miller has never played a full 82 games. Because he’s not a great athlete and hasn’t always worked hard to stay in shape, Miller has had the tendency to suffer injuries that cause him to miss time and/or inhibit his play. He also has a bad habit of arguing with officials and picking up needless technicals. Miller used to have a reputation for thuggery. Although that hasn’t been much of a problem in the last few seasons, he can probably be counted on for a handful of flagrants and maybe one controversial foul per season.

Believe it or not, Miller’s $12.3 million salary will make him the highest paid Bulls player this season (Luol Deng is second at $10.4 million). However, his contract expires next summer. This likely will make him trade bait during the season, since many teams will want to cut payroll heading into the Summer of 2010. This also makes Miller a candidate for the Contract Year Phenomenon, since his next contract could very well be his last.

Summary:
Pervis Ellison, Michael Olowokandi, Kwame Brown. Those are three centers who were chosen number one overall in the NBA Draft…and all three of them were all-time busts. By contrast, Miller went undrafted and yet has had an solid 11-year career. And remember, he was an All-Star in 2002-03 (with the Pacers) and 2003-04 (with the Kings). This is a testament to both his skill set and his basketball IQ.

Assuming Joakim Noah continues to start, Miller will be perhaps the best backup center in the NBA this season. He’s a smart player who doesn’t make many mistakes. Miller led the Bulls in Player Efficiency Rating last season (18.6). He can’t be counted on for inside scoring or defense, but he can shoot, pass and rebound. Miller isn’t a leader, but he can make teams better with his versatile offensive game.

More Miller:
NBA.com profile
ESPN.com profile
Basketball-Reference profile
82games.com stats
Wikipedia entry

Bonus video:
This is mostly stuff from his Sacramento days. Hopefully he’ll have a few more Bulls highlights after this season.

The post Scouting Report: Brad Miller appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Name: Luol Deng (pronounced Lu-owl Dang)
Position: SF
Height: 6’9″
Weight: 220 pounds
Birth Date: April 16, 1985 (24 years old)
Birth Place: Wau
Number: 9
Nicknames: Deng-Dong, Luol, Sweet Lu, The Man from Sudan
College: Duke
Drafted: 2004, 1st Round, 7th overall by Phoenix
Experience: 5 seasons (unless you don’t count last season…)
Previous teams: None
Contract: $10.3 million in 2009-10
Expect: A little bit of everything
Don’t expect: Three-pointers

On offense:
Deng is one of those classic “does many things well but nothing great” guys on the offensive end. His go-to move is the mid-range pull-up jumper (either off the dribble or in transition), but he can also put the ball on the floor, get to the rim, spot up, shoot off screens, crash the offensive glass (he’s averaged almost two o-boards per game for his career) and even post up on occasion. Furthermore, Deng is an above-average finisher on the break, can move very well without the ball and has solid ball-handling skills. He’s also a reasonably good passer. This versatility provides Deng — and, by extension, the Bulls — a lot of ways to score the basketball.

The one glaring deficiency in Deng’s game — other than that whole “does nothing great” thing — is his poor long-range shooting. Technically, Deng hit 40 percent of his threes last season…but he attempted only 20 in the 49 games he played (an average of 0.4 attempts per game). On his career, Deng is shooting 28.3 percent from downtown and has attempted only 244 three-balls in five seasons (and 117 of those came during his rookie campaign). Improving his accuracy from beyond the arc could really help Deng take his game to the next level.

Beyond that, he could also stand to improve his free throw shooting. Deng is a career 76.8 shooter from the charity stripe and has never hit above 80 percent for a season.

On defense:
Deng’s defensive game is similar to his offensive game in that he’s solid in most areas but isn’t outstanding in any one in particular. His long arms and quick hands allow him to challenge shots and deflect passes, although he doesn’t average many blocked shots or steals (0.5 and 1.0 for his career, respectively). Deng’s defensive fundamentals — stance, footwork, rotations — are all above average and he does a solid job of staying in front of his man. Between that and his combination of length and lateral quickness, Deng has the skill set necessary to be one of the league’s premier defenders at his position.

Miscellaneous:
Deng has the ability, both offensively and defensively, to be an All-Star-caliber player. This was never more apparent than during the 2006-07 season when he set career-highs in most statistical categories, including scoring (18.8), rebounding (7.1), True Shooting Percentage (56.0) and Player Efficiency Rating (18.7). However, Deng regressed in 2007-08 (despite the fact that it was a contract year) due to back and Achilles injuries. He failed to make a strong comeback in 2008-09 (despite signing a $71 million contract during the offseason), mostly because of a right tibial stress fracture that sidelined him during the second half of the season.

So what we’re left with is the cold, hard fact that Deng has had one very good season out of five. Was that a sign of what he could become…or a one-year abberation? John Hollinger made the point that Deng’s 2005-06 and 2007-08 seasons were almost identical, even down to the number of shots he attempted from each distance. And obviously things didn’t improve last season.

Is Deng a one-season wonder, or will he get healthy this season and transform into the All-Star everybody thought he would become two seasons ago? I guess we’re going to find out. I know Bulls fans have grown a bit weary of waiting for him to justify all the hopes, expectations and money that have been invested in him.

Summary:
Deng has good size at his position, a strong frame, a long wingspan, decent athleticism, fantastic versatility and (by all accounts) and outstanding work ethic. In other words, he has the tools and talent necessary to approach greatness. About the only thing he can’t do is stick the three. If Deng comes anywhere close to reaching his potential this season — or even if he reverts to the Luol of 2006-07 — the Bulls could be much better than most people suspect.

More Luol:
NBA.com profile
ESPN.com profile
Basketball-Reference profile
82games.com Player Stats
Wikipedia entry

Bonus video:

The post Scouting Report: Luol Deng appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Name: Joakim Noah (pronounced JO-a-kim)
Position: PF/C
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 232 pounds
Birth Date: February 25, 1985 (24 years old)
Birth Place: New York, NY
Number: 13
Nicknames: Dr. No, Jo, Jo-No, Noah Kim-Joa, The Joker
College: Florida
Drafted: 2007, 1st Round, 9th overall by Chicago
Experience: 2 seasons
Previous teams: None
Contract: $2.4 million in 2009-10, $3.1 million in 2010-11 (team option)
Expect: Rebounding, blocked shots, crazy energy, crazier hair
Don’t expect: Much scoring

On offense:
Noah’s offense is extremely limited, which probably explains why his career high in points (19) is less than his career high in rebounds (20). Sure, Noah led the Bulls in Effective Field Goal Percentage last season (.556), but almost all of his scoring comes of layups, dunks and putbacks. According to 82games.com, 94 percent of his field goal attempts were inside (where he had an eFG% of .577). Only six percent of his attempts were jump shots (on which he had an eFG% of .227). So, unlike some Bulls players — coughTyrusThomascough! — at least Noah knows his limitations.

Last season, 80 percent of his dunks and nearly 60 percent of his inside shots were assisted, so it’s pretty obvious that Noah doesn’t generally look to create his own offense. He’s almost strictly a finisher. Oddly enough, despite an increase in MPG (from 20.7 to 24.2), Noah’s per-36-minutes scoring average actually dropped from 11.5 his rookie season to 10.0 last year. There were times during the 2008-09 campaign when you could tell that he was hesitant to shoot the ball. If the Bulls are going to succeed this season — during which they have to replace Ben Gordon’s 20 PPG — Noah is going to have to trust his offense. Which also means he’ll have to actually develop some.

There are some rumors that Noah has spent significant time this summer adding strength, working on his post game and improving his lower body mechanics and overall balance. Let’s hope those rumors prove true. I think his game could really blossom if he added a few go-to scoring moves. He already does a great job running out in transition.

Beside the scoring issue, Noah can be a crafty passer when he actually touches the ball. He’s also a demon on the offensive glass. Last season, Noah ranked 2nd in the NBA in Offensive Rebounds Per 48 Minutes (6.0). Offensive rebounding is all about desire and effort, and Noah certainly doesn’t lack in those departments. He’s also a willing and able screener.

On defense:
What Noah lacks in offensive proficiency he makes up for in defensive intensity. While it’s true that bigger, stronger post players (like Shaq or even Al Jefferson) can usually outmuscle him down low, he’s pretty accomplished in most other areas. His transition defense is fantastic, he can pick up smaller, quicker players on switches, and he rotates extremely well. He can even press and trap when asked to do so, mostly due to his natural athleticism and (more importantly) his willingness to scramble all over the floor.

Last season, Noah ranked 15th in the NBA in Blocks Per Game (1.38) and 13th in Blocks Per 48 Minutes (2.72). With more minutes, I believe he could easily rank in the top 10, maybe even the top five. Same with rebounding. Noah feasts on the defensive glass, which is why last season he ranked 7th in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds Per 48 Minutes (11.3).

Miscellaneous:
Noah has true passion a real thrill for competition. He almost always plays at a frenetic, high-energy pace and he would walk face-first through a brick wall to win. You want someone like that on your team. His energy, enthusiasm and sheer desire more than make up for his limited offensive skill set. (Although I’m still hoping that skill set expands a little.)

Summary:
Noah is everything you want in a teammate: talented, passionate, driven and unselfish. Unless something truly amazing (and very surprising) happens, he’ll probably never be much of a scorer. However, he can still be a big-time game-changer with his offensive rebounding and his defense.

What’s his ceiling? I can see Noah becoming Ben Wallace 2.0. And I’m not talking about the washed-up Wallace from his Chicago days. I mean the in-his-prime Big Ben who in 2004 stymied Shaq and helped the Detroit Pistons upset the Lakers in the NBA Finals. I see no reason why Noah couldn’t become everything Wallace was back then…and maybe a little bit more.

More Joakim:
NBA.com profile
ESPN.com profile
Basketball-Reference profile
82games.com Player Stats
Wikipedia entry

Bonus video:
Here’s what Joakim Noah does:

The post Scouting Report: Joakim Noah appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to provide a scouting report on all the current Bulls players. This should make it a little easier for me (and maybe for you) to sort through the pieces of Chicago’s jigsaw puzzle. I decided to start with the man who will replace the dearly departed Ben Gordon as the team’s starting shooting guard.

Name: John Salmons (pronounced SAL-muns)
Position: SG/SF
Height: 6’6″ or 6’7″ (depending on whom you ask)
Weight:210-ish
Birth Date: December 12, 1979 (29 years old)
Birth Place: Philadelphia, PA
Number: 15
Nicknames: Buck, Get Right, The Fish Man, Up Stream
College: Miami (FL)
Drafted: 2002, 1st Round, 26th overall by Philadelphia
Experience: 7 seasons
Previous teams: Philadelphia (2002-2006), Sacramento (2006-2009)
Contract: $5.5 in 2009-10, $5.8 million in 2010-11 (player option)
Expect: Pull-up jumpers, strong drives, solid man-to-man defense
Don’t expect: Floor leadership, amazing ball-handling, a sixth man

On offense:
Salmons has become a highly effective slasher. He can get to the hoop, absorb contact and finish with either hand. However, Salmons prefers to stop short of the basket, pull up and squeeze off midrange jump shots. In fact, according to 82games.com, 73 percent of his shots during his 26 games with the Bulls were jumpers. (He attempted jumpers 68 percent of the time when he was with the Kings.)

Despite his love affair with the jump shot, Salmons was a pretty efficient scorer last season, shooting 47 percent from the field and nearly 42 percent from three-point range. In fact, he led the 2008-09 Bulls in True Shooting Percentage and was second (to Joakim Noah) in Effective Field Goal Percentage. And while it’s true he played only 26 games in Chicago, his season totals still would have ranked him second in both categories.

So Salmons can penetrate, create his own shots and spread the floor with his outside shooting ability. Those are good things. Unfortunately, a decent chunk of his scoring comes from isolation plays that feature him dribbling, dribbling and dribbling some more until he can cut to the hoop or invent a jumper. During these isolations, Salmons can (and will) overlook cutting teammates and interrupt the flow of the offense. He sometimes commits needless turnovers by overdribbling or forcing a drive. He also has the tendency to disappear when his number isn’t called frequently enough.

On defense:
Salmons is a solid — and sometimes exceptional — man-to-man defender, even when matched against premier wing players (such as Paul Pierce and Michael Redd) and talented point guards (like Steve Nash). He’s doesn’t possess blazing speed, but he has the lateral quickness and determination necessary to keep his man in front of him. In fact, his primary defensive strategy is to stop his man’s drive and force a contested jumper. Salmons is willing (and able) to fight through screens and body-up on his man when necessary. He’s not a great rebounder at the SF position, but he’s slightly above average when playing SG, as he will be this season.

On the downside, his team defense is average to below average. His rotations can be sluggish (and sometimes nonexistent) and he’s often so focused on staying with his own man that he fails to help out when his teammates get beaten off the dribble. Salmons tends not to play the passing lanes and doesn’t have great anticipation, so he won’t disrupt many passes or collect a lot of steals.

Miscellaneous:
At this point, everybody knows that Salmons is much more effective starting than coming off the bench. To my knowledge, he’s never complained openly about his role (although it was reported he once stormed out of the lockerroom during his Sacramento days), but the change in his productivity has been pretty easy to track. In 2007-08 for the Kings, Salmons started 41 games (due to injuries) and subbed for 40. On a per-40-minute basis, he averaged 18.4 points on 49.7 percent shooting when starting, and only 12.4 points on 43.0 percent shooting in a reserve capacity. This Jekyll-and-Hyde behavior shouldn’t be a problem this season, since he’s expected to start.

Salmons is a quiet player who isn’t known as a motivational, team-leader type. Which is fine, because that’s not his role with the Bulls.

Note also that Salmons has a player option on the final year of his contract (2010-11). So unless he falls apart this season, he’ll probably opt out of his contract next summer. On the upside, that could spark a little Contract Year Phenomenon.

Summary:
Salmons is a versatile player. He can defend (and defend well) at three positions (PG, SG and SF). He can drive and finish, create pull-up jumpers from midrange and stick it from long distance. He’ll probably never be an All-Star, but he can and most likely will be a very good utility/complimentary player.

More Salmons:
NBA.com profile
ESPN.com profile
Basketball-Reference profile
82games.com Player Stats
Wikipedia entry

Bonus video:
Now watch Salmons go to work. (And, in case you’re interested, here’s a mix from his Sacramento days.)

The post Scouting Report: John Salmons appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.